When you are on the market for a new pair of eyeglasses, you think a lot about the types of frames that you want to get. Aviator, wire, or tortoiseshell to name a few Your eye doctor will also be able to recommend which lenses will be the best for enhancing your vision. For example, if basic plastic lenses will be fine or if you should be considering a thinner polycarbonate or high index type, which might be the best option for higher prescriptions.

However, once you have chosen your frames and lenses, there are even more options to consider regarding the lens coatings. Each type will come with its own set of properties, from light reduction to scratch resistance. Some of these coatings are strictly cosmetic, however, depending on what your vision needs are, others might help improve your comfort and safety. While some coatings could come with your eyeglass package price, others might add an additional charge to your eyewear. So how do you know which lens coatings are the right choice for you so you can be sure you are getting the best value? Your eye doctor could give you a few suggestions, however in general, these are ultimately personal decisions. One size does not fit all when it comes to lens coatings. In order to help you go through the most common choices, here is some top advice from vision industry experts.

Anti-reflective
Anti-reflective coating, also called AR or anti-glare, is usually applied to both sides of the lens. The purpose is to help reduce the amount of light reflected off the surface of the lens and can help enhance contrast in specific environments. This means you will get the maximum amount of light in the environment that you are in, however, it will be free from any visual interference which can come from the light bouncing off your glasses. Sounds like an awesome option to us!

Scratch-resistant
This coating will help make your glasses less susceptible to scratching if you accidentally drop them or clean them using an abrasive cloth. Most glasses would not last very long without this type of coating, as polycarbonate and high index lenses are made from softer materials. This is definitely a ‘we told you so’ moment!

UV protective
As time goes on and we age, the sun’s UV rays can contribute to vision problems like cataracts or retinal damage. Many eyeglass lenses do have UV protection built in but most like to have the option to buy additional treatments to have 100 percent protection.

Tinted
With this type of lens, dyes are applied to the lenses to help cut down on the visible light that is entering the eye. This does not necessarily apply to UV rays. The hues will range from light tints to pastel blue or pink, to more deeper shades for use with sunglasses.